# Could there be POSITIVE effects of same-sex marriage?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-positive-effects-of-same-sex-marriage/497862
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [May 27, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-positive-effects-of-same-sex-marriage/497862 "2009-05-27T23:11:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 3

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### Author: ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-there-be-positive-effects-of-same-sex-marriage/497862/41 "2009-05-28T22:23:18Z")

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> [@rivulus](#):
>
> loss of consortium tort benefits – No clue what this means.

As I understand it, if someone causes a physical and/or mental injury to your spouse such that you lose a significant aspect of your relationship (i.e. the spouse is paralyzed and can no longer have sex, or brain damage causes them to hallucinate that you are a Martian) you can seek damages in court.

That is, if you’re married. Civil unioned? Forget it.

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